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Sermon - The Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 25th, 2026
The Rev. Mike Ferrito Preaching
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Message from the Office
of the Bishop
Dear Friends,
I am sure you have been watching and reading the news. With heavy hearts yet clear eyes, we continue to witness the attacks on immigrant communities across the country. The most recent killings by ICE of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have moved the abusive behavior to a new and deadly level. It is behavior that is wholly unworthy of the people of this country and our Constitution.
Over the past year, we have seen a historic number of fatalities due to immigration enforcement and detention. We cannot accept the targeting of any portion of our nation’s population.
We are called to visibly live out a culture of life, even as there is a surge in the culture of death on our streets. Love and respect for every human – each of whom carries the imago dei – the Image of God – is a heart changing path. It is a world changing way, it is Jesus’ Way and he alone is our Truth and our Life.
Continue Reading Here...
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St. Michael's Annual Meeting & Report
Thank you all for attending the Annual Meeting this past Sunday. It was a very productive meeting. We elected Harriette Carr, Mary Kessler, Rick Larkey & John Rojek to Vestry. We elected Cindy Dewey, Greg Dewey, Kate Muris, Renee Pierce, Jim Sargent, Chuck Schaller, and Holly Yue as our Diocesan Lay Delegates with Sue Corbin as our Alternate. The Full Annual Report can be found here and on our Website. This includes a new report from our Acceptance, Respect, and Community Committee who submitted the following article about the work they have been doing below.
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St. Michael’s Acceptance, Respect, and Community Committee
Following an Episcopal Church initiative promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in our actions, St. Michael’s Vestry established DEI as the title of Goal #4 of the 2024-2025 Strategic Plan subtitled: “All are Welcome.” The objectives to implement this goal involve fostering a greater understanding of the purposes of DEI among parish members, offering opportunities for the inclusion of diverse populations, and incorporating DEI into St. Michael’s hiring and promotion practices.
Continue Reading...
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STEWARDSHIP
Pledge cards are still being accepted for the 2026 Pledge Year. The vestry appreciates your continued support as they plan the church budget for next year. Pledge cards may be placed in the offering plate, mailed or You may set up your donation online.
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Gartin Baby Shower Coffee Hour
Sunday February 8
Special coffee hour quickly approaching! We will be hosting a baby shower in honor of the Gartin family's newest arrival on Sunday, February 8 during coffee hour immediately following the service. Mary Ellen and Renee are coordinating set up, decorating and clean up. If you would like to bring a pot luck dish or volunteer, please contact Mary Ellen, Renee or send an email to the office. If you, or you and a friend, wish to give a gift, the Gartin’s are registered here (https://my.babylist.com/megan-anderson-gartin).
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Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop
Saturday, January 31
9am – 12:30pm in the Friendship Center
Are you looking for a way to explore or deepen your relationship with God?
In our introductory workshop to Centering Prayer, you will learn about a monastic way of praying distilled from the 14th century classic book - The Cloud of Unknowing. Centering Prayer consists of simply sitting in silence with God—beyond thoughts, words, and emotions—and opening our mind, heart and whole being to the Ultimate Mystery.
The basics of centering prayer will be taught along with actual practice of the prayer in community. In this guided workshop, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and share experiences with the presenter and fellow participants.
All are welcome.
Please RSVP by emailing centercossa@gmail.com
$30 donation - Payment instructions will be emailed after registration.
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Dinner & Documentary
FAKE Searching for truth in the age of misinformation
Sunday February 1, 2026
Please join us for our next Dinner & Documentary session on Sunday, February 1, 2026, where we will view FAKE. This PBS documentary focuses on how the average person can decipher fact from fiction in the current times where the sheer volume of news available can be overwhelming. This series draws from common sense, critical thinking skills, and universal standards of journalism to give viewers the tools to discern fact from fiction in news reports, identify fake news, and evaluate the biases of real news.
As we resume gathering once a month for a dinner and documentary evening, we’d like to hear from those of you who are interested in coming when you can. Please complete the survey HERE to insure these evenings will serve both your own sense of purpose and the common good. Our next scheduled Dinner & Documentary date will be March 1 focusing on two short documentaries about immigration, deportation and sanctuary.
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, February 17th - 6pm
Join us! St. Michael's will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday with our annual pancake supper in the Parish Hall. Questions, want to volunteer & flip some pancakes? Contact the office.
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Recipe Corner
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN IN A HURRY
Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 5 Hrs Servings 4
Chicken cooked in brown sugar, onion soup mix and ketchup sauce.
INGREDIENTS
8 chicken drumsticks, about 3 lbs., skinless (thighs or breasts may be used)
1/2 C Ketchup
1/3 C Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Dried parsley
1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
1 oz. Onion Soup Packet
1/3 C Water
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, soup mix, cayenne pepper, parsley and Worcestershire sauce. Add the water and cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until completely combined. Spray the crockpot with nonstick spray, add chicken legs to the pot. Pour the mixture over the chicken. Cook on low for five hours or until chicken is done.
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Saturday February 28
Parish & Johnstone Halls
Come pack meal bags that reach hungry people throughout the world. It is a very fun event and a great opportunity to gather as community to do something for those in need. Last year we packed over 10,000 meals that went to support those in need in Philippines. Come be a part of this super fun event!
Please sign up on their website. If you have questions or need help please contact the office. If you are willing to help with set up or clean up please let us know!
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Winter Respite
Monday, February 9th
Carmichael Presbyterian
5645 Marconi Ave, Carmichael
Thank you for all who have signed up already. We are still collecting gently used coats, sweaters, boots all in adult sizes, clean sleeping bags or blankets and new underwear and socks. If you are interested in volunteering for our February 9th date a signup sheet will be posted near the coffee table at Coffee Hour on Sunday. Please contact Cindy Dewey if you have questions or would like to volunteer. More details about a Winter Respite volunteer day here.
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Habitat for Humanity
Build for Unity
All of our Build for Unity Volunteer slots are filled! Thank you to everyone who is joining us on January 31 & February 6 & 7! Build for Unity is a Habitat for Humanity program where multi-faith communities come together to build houses for low-income families. St. Michaels was one of the original faith groups that started this amazing program (in 2016).If you have questions, please connect with Terry Bridges.
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Regular Outreach opportunities
River City Food Bank Center at St. Matthew's - Distribution Prep every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday & Distribution every Wednesday & Friday
Carmichael HART Carmichael Presbyterian Church - Lunch program every Thursday & the Shower Ministry every Saturday
God's Helping Hands Laundry LaunderLand every 3rd Saturday of the month
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St. Michael's Worship & Music | |
Weekly Services
10am Sunday Morning Worship Eucharist (also Livestreamed)
Nursery available during worship
5pm Sunday Evening Contemplative Prayer Service on Zoom
9am Morning Prayer – Zoom Monday through Thursday
8:30am Friday Morning Contemplative Eucharist
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Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday, February 18th
7am Eucharist & Ashes
12pm Eucharist & Ashes
7pm Eucharist & Ashes with Livestream
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. A season of reflection and repentance.
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Piano Meditation by John Cozza
Schubert--Andante from Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 664
With the composer's birthday falling on this coming Saturday, 1/31, this week's piano meditation is the slow movement of Schubert's Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 664 (the "D" refers to the catalog of Schubert's complete works by Otto Erich Deutsch, an Austrian musicologist). Even though it is only two pages long, it contains a wealth of profound feeling and harmonic/melodic color, in which I hear different facets every time I play it. I invite you to lose yourself in its musical beauty!
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Prayers for Pregnant Women & Their Babies
We have an ongoing relationship with the Episcopal Sisters at the Order of Julian of Norwich monastery who pray daily for pregnant women and their babies. If you have name(s) of loved one(s) who are expecting that you would like to have included in the sisters' prayers, please email Fr. Rod.
Giving Thanks with Flowers!
You can remember your loved ones and celebrate important moments in your life with the gift of flowers to the church.
If you would like to give in this way, please let the office know
and what you would like to give thanks for in the bulletin. You can send a check (or drop it off) to the office or pay on-line.
Name Tags
Name tags are available at Sunday morning check in's on the greeter cart. Please be sure to grab and wear your name tag before the service. If you are in need of a name tag please let the office know.
St. Michael's Hours
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am - 1:00pm
Sanctuary and Courtyard are open during office hours. Please let the office know you will be coming. Call 916.488.3550 or email.
Pastoral Hours
Rev. Megan will be available on request. Please email revmegan@stmichaelscarmichael.org to schedule.
Pastor Katie will be available on request. Please email pastorkatie@stmichaelscarmichael.org to schedule.
Fr. Mike will be available on request. Please email revdrferrito@outlook.com to schedule.
Fr. Rod will be available on request. Please email fatherrod@stmichaelscarmichael.org to schedule.
Giving
Thank you all for generously supporting St. Michael's and our ministries. We are accepting pledge payments through the mail. We are also accepting online giving. You may have to set up an account to do so. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Kate Muris.
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St. Michael's Episcopal Church
2140 Mission Avenue, Carmichael CA 95608
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